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Previous Volume 347:1717-1719 November 21, 2002 Number 21 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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To the Editor: Although the study by Moseley et al. (July 11 issue)¹ was based on sound scientific principles and included a dramatic control (a sham operation), it was flawed because of the selection of patients. The study group comprised veterans, 75 years of age or younger, almost all of whom were men. This cohort of patients does not truly represent the general population. Osteoarthritis does not suddenly appear late in life, when increasing symptoms are accompanied by radiologic changes. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative process that starts with the earliest changes in the articular cartilage seen at arthroscopy and progresses . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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